• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.247-253
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• 2006

Our previous research has identified granulin (grn) and p130 genes as sex steroid-inducible genes in the rat hypothalamus, which might be involved in sexual differentiation of the brain. Phthalate esters that are used as plasticizers and also found at low levels in foods such as dairy products are often mentioned as suspected endocrine disrupters. The purpose of the present study is to elucidate whether perinatal exposure to di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and di-2-ethylhexyl adipate (DEHA) affects hypothalamic sex steroid-inducible genes. The present study assessed the effects of perinatal exposure to DBP, DINP and DEHA on sex steroid hormones levels and hypothalamic gm and p130 mRNA expressions at postnatal day (PND) 3 and 7. Pregnant rats were fed a soy-free diet containing 20, 200, 2,000 and 10,000 ppm of DBP, 40, 400, 4,000 and 20,000 ppm of DINP, or 480, 2,400 and 12,000 ppm of DEHA from gestational day (GD) 15 to GD 3 or 7. At PND 3 and 7, perinatal exposure to these chemicals did not substantially affect serum concentrations of testosterone and estradiol. At PND 3, the expression of grn mRNA levels in males was decreased by DEHA, and that of p130 was decreased by DBP, DINP and DEHA, though the effects were not dose-dependent. At PND 7, the expression of gm gene in female pups was increased by higher doses of DBP and all the doses, except for 4,000 ppm, of DINP, while that in male pups decreased by 480 and 12,000 ppm of DEHA. Hypothalamic expression of p130 mRNA in males was increased by lower doses of DBP and all the doses of DINP, whereas that of females was decreased by 480 and 2,400 ppm of DEHA. These results suggest that these chemicals may affect the expression of gm and p130 genes by directly acting on the hypothalamus, thus leading to inappropriate expression of these genes.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.65-70
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• 2017

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is one of the most common congenital infections. The first case of discordant congenital CMV infection in twins occurred in Korea. A 31-year-old woman became pregnant with twins (dichorionic-diamniotic). An elective caesarean section was performed at 37 weeks. The first baby was male, weighing 2,410 g with an Apgar score of 8/9. The second baby was female, weighing 1,380 g with an Apgar score of 5/8. She had experienced intrauterine growth retardation, and presented with microcephaly, micrognathia, and joint stiffness. During the work-up for discordant twins, the second baby's serum test was positive for CMV immunoglobulin M. Her urine, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were CMV polymerase chain reaction positive. The first baby's CMV tests were negative. Ophthalmologic exam and audiometry performed on the second baby showed CMV retinitis and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. She was treated with intravenous ganciclovir. Currently, she is bed-ridden and has significant developmental delay. Although the causes of discordant congenital CMV infection in twins are unclear, this case shows that discordant congenital CMV infection should be considered in twins with significant differences in intrauterine growth or clinical symptoms after birth.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness(ASFT) and maternal gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM) measured by ultrasound at period of pregnancy. We compared maternal age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, and weight gain during pregnancy in 286 pregnant women who were diagnosed with early pregnancy ASFT and high GDM screening test(50 g OGTT) of more than 140 mg/dL. ROC curve analysis was used to determine the cut-off value of ASFT for GDM prediction. Maternal age and weight gain during pregnancy were not related to GDM in the mid-trimester and pre-pregnancy body mass index and earely pregnancy ASFT were significantly different between normal and GDM high risk groups. The cut-off value of ASFT for GDM prediction was 2.23 cm(AUC 0.913. Sensitivity 76.19%, Specificity 93.72%). ASFT measured by ultrasound in early pregnancy was useful as an important index for predicting mid-trimester GDM prediction. Therefore, ASFT can be used as an auxiliary diagnostic index for early recognition of GDM.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.549-555
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• 2016

This study was an evaluation of the significance of each parameter through aimed at pregnant women subjected to screening test(integrated test) in predicting risk of Down syndrome. We retrospectively analysed the correlation of risk of Down's syndrome with Nuchal Translucency(NT) images measured by ultrasound, Pregnancy Associated Plasma Protein A(PAPP-A), alpha-fetoprotein(AFP), unconjugated estriol(uE3), human chorionic gonadotrophin(hCG) and Inhibin A by maternal serum. As a result, a significant correlation with NT, uE3, hCG, Inhibin A is revealed with Down's syndrome risk(P<.001). In ROC analysis, AUC of Inhibin A is analysed as the biggest predictor of Down's syndrome(0.859). And the criterion for cut-off was inhibin A 1.4 MoM(sensitivity 81.8%, specificity 75.9%). In conclusion, Inhibin A was the most useful in parameters to predict Down's syndrome in the integrated test. If we make up for the weakness based on the cut-off value of parameters they will be able to be used as an independent indicator in the risk of Down's syndrome screening.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 1974

The literature on the hematology of dairy cattle contains very important information of physiological and clinical field, but a comprehensive survey on the blood picture of Holstein cows has not been made yet in Korea. The object of the present investigation was to make good this deficiency, and to suggest standards for the blood picture of Holstein cows kept under average farming condition in this country. Observations were made on the blood picture of 30 healthy non-pregnant Holstein cows aging from 6 to 10 years. All of them were selected at random from 15 livestock farms of Deajeon area in order to determine the hematological values from January to Feburary, 1974. The ranges and mean values of erythrocyte count, hemoglobin in blood, hematocrit value, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and total and differential leukocyte count were determined. The result obtained in this work were summerized as follows: 1. Ranges and mean values(with standard error) of erythrocyte count, hemoglobin in blood and hematocrit values were 4.90~7.82 and $5.83{\pm}0.12{\times}10^6/mm^3$, 7.8~10.3 and $8.7{\pm}0.11g/100ml$, and 26~38 and $30.2{\pm}0.53$ mI/100 ml, respectively. 2. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration showed ranges and mean values(with standard error) of 13.2~17.4 and $14.8{\pm}0.22$ pg, 46.0~71.8 and $52.3{\pm}0.31{\mu}m^3$, and 21.6~32.7 and $28.6{\pm}0.47$ g/100 ml, respectively. 3. Total leukocyte count showed a range of 6,300~13,600 and a mean value(with standard error) of $10,035{\pm}346/mm^3$. 4. Ranges and mean values(with standard error) of differential leukocyte counts of total neutrophil were 21~40 and $36.4{\pm}0.7%$, 1,638~4,080 and $3,233{\pm}111/mm^3$, of band neutrophil 0~9 and $3.9{\pm}0.5%$, 0~1,028 and $390{\pm}54/mm^3$, of segmented neutrophil 18~35 and $28.4{\pm}0.7%$, 1,386~3,672 and $2,842{\pm}103/mm^3$, of lymphocyte 46~69 and $55.3{\pm}1.1%$, 3,380~8,976 and $5,535{\pm}263/mm^3$, of monocyte 0~4 and $1.7{\pm}0.2%$, 0~324 and $116{\pm}21/mm^3$, of eosinophil 4~15 and $10.8{\pm}0.6%$, 540~1,725 and $1,082{\pm}72/mm^3$. No basophil was observed in this work.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 1981

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the measurement of free thyroxine (FT4) by radioimmunoassay, we measured free $T_4\;and\;T_4,\;T_3,\;T_3RU$, TSH and TBG serum levels by radioimmunoassay in 18 healthy persons and 52 patients with various thyroid diseases and 11 normal pregnant women. The results are as follows. 1. In 19 cases of overt hyperthyroidism, $T_3,\;free\;T_4$ and FTI, $T_4/TBG$ ratio reflect hyperfunction in all cases. $T_4$ is increased in 94% (18/19) and TBG and TSH are decreased in 79% (15/19). 2. In 8 patients with overt hypothyroidism, TSH is increased in all cases and free $T_4$ and FTI is decreased in all cases. $T_4$ is decreased in 87.5% (7/8), $T_3$ is decreased in 75% (6/8) and $T_4/TBG$ ratio is decreased in 62.5% (5/8). 3. In 5 patients who are clinically in euthyroid state after treatment of hyperthyroidism, $T_4,\;free\;T_4$, FTI and TSH are in the normal range in all cases and $T_3$ is normal in 60% (3/5) and slightly increased in 40% (2/5). 4. In 10 patients who showed clinically borderline hypothyroidism after treatment of hyperthyroidism, TSH is increased in all cases and free $T_4$ and FTI are decreased in all cases, but $T_4\;and\;T_3,\;T_4/TBG$ ratio are in the normal limit in all cases. So after treatment of hyperthyroidism, TSH, free $T_4$ or FTI are recommended as optimal thyroid function test. 5. In normal pregnancy, free $T_4$, FTI and $T_4/TBG$ ratio reflect normal function, but the other parameters revealed unreliable due to the influence of increased TBG. Also TBG and TSH level in pregnancy is increased significantly compared with normal healthy control group. 6. The coefficients of correlation between free $T_4$ and FTI were 0.862 (p<0.001) and 0.685 (p<0.001) between free $T_4\;and\;T_4/TBG$ ratio. In most patients, diagnostic value of free $T_4$ was comparable and even superior to FTI, so free $T_4$ measurement can be used routinely with thyrotropin assay in the diagnosis of hypothyrodism or with $T_3$ for the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2012

Noxious gases with malodorous substance concentrations in each stages of pig buildings were determined at a typical 400sow-scale farm to improve piggery environment. Using IAQ-300 and pDR-1000AN, continuous records for the concentration of $NH_3$, CO, $CO_2$, $NO_2$, $SO_2$, $H_2S$, $O_2$, and along with temperature, humidity, dust concentrates from individual pig pens were collected to analyze every 6 hours' condition of indoor environment for 24 hours' period. In most pig houses, the air quality at noon was good, while at night (00:00~06:00), air composition became noxious in all buildings. The order of buildings' air quality for 24 hrs was pregnant > farrowing > nursery > growing > finishing. The cause of air quality differences was presumed to be the differences of stocking density, defecating amount and the length of exposure time of slurry in indoors. In conclusion, well-designed building structure, proper control of stocking density, quick removal of excreta from pig pens and continuous ventilation are prerequisites to improve pig housing environment.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.5-11
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• 2008

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were daily performed from 15 days after ovulation until parturition to determine the time of first detection and ultrasonographic appearance of the fetal and extra-fetal structures in pregnant 10 Maltese, 10 Yorkshire Terrier, 15 Shih-tzu, and 10 Miniature Schnauzer bitches, respectively. Gestational age was timed from the day of ovulation (day 0), which was estimated to occur when plasma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0ng/ml. The gestational length was $63.4{\sim}63.6$ (range: $61{\sim}65$) days and the geatational length was no statistically significant difference among bitches (p>0.05). The initial detection of the extra-fetal structures were; gestational sac at days $18.9{\sim}19.5\;(17{\sim}22)$, zonary placenta at days $24.6{\sim}25.5\;(23{\sim}28)$, yolk sac membrane at days $24.6{\sim}25.5\;(23{\sim}27)$, yolk sac tubular shape at days $26.1{\sim}26.3\;(24{\sim}28)$, and amniotic membrane at days $26.1{\sim}28.2\;(24{\sim}31)$, respectively. The time of the first detection of the extra-fetal structures were no statistically significant difference among bitches (p>0.05). The initial detection of the fetal structures were; embryo initial detection at days $22.5{\sim}22.9\;(21{\sim}24)$, heartbeat at days $23.2{\sim}23.8\;(21{\sim}25)$, embryo bipolar shape $27.6{\sim}28.9\;(26{\sim}30)$, fetal movement at days $31.9{\sim}32.8\;(27{\sim}34)$, limb buds at days $29.1{\sim}30.7\;(27{\sim}33)$, stomach at days $31.1{\sim}33.1\;(29{\sim}34)$, urinary bladder at days $32.4{\sim}33.2\;(29{\sim}35)$, skeleton at days $34.7{\sim}35.9\;(34{\sim}39)$, and kidney at days $42.1{\sim}44.7\;(41{\sim}48)$, respectively. The the time of the first detection of the fetal structures were no statistically significant difference among bitches (p>0.05). These results indicate the evaluation of the time of first detection and ultrasonographic characteristics of the gestational structures might be useful for pregnancy diagnosis, estimating fetal age, embryonic resorption, fetal monster, abnormal fetal growth and fetal viability, respectively.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2003

Objectives : This study was performed to examine the relationship between maternal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and pregnancy outcomes (low birth weight or preform baby) in a prospective cohort study. Methods : We made a pregnant women's cohort, and followed the pregnancy outcomes, between May 1st 2001 and August 31st 2002. We surveyed 2,250 women who visited our hospital during their 35th gestational week, with a self-administered questionnaire. The final total of mother-infant pairs analyzed in this study was 1,712. We used a multiple logistic regression analysis to analyze the effect of maternal ETS on the incidence of preform or low birth weight, and a linear regression analysis for the birth weight and gestational age. Results : Higher exposure to ETS (>=1 hours/day) during pregnancy was more negatively associated with the gestational age and birth weight, than no exposure to ETS (no or less than 1 hour). Maternal exposure to ETS was associated with preform baby(adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.7; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.9, 3.3) and low birth weight (AOR 2.3; 95% CI 0.9, 5.5). In addition, we found that maternal ETS may reduce the birth weight by 70g after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Conclusions : This study suggests that maternal exposure to ETS during pregnancy may increase the frequency of low birth weights and preform births.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.101-107
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• 2014

Purpose: Recently, the population of elderly people has been increasing rapidly all over the world. The social activities of the aging population have increased, which has also increased the number of elderly patients injured in traffic accidents. Thus, we analyzed the characteristics of elderly patients involved in traffic accidents. Methods: This study was conducted retrospectively from July 2008 to March 2009 among trauma patients involved in traffic accidents who visited Wonju Severance Christian Hospital. Patients under 18 years of age and pregnant patients were excluded. We divided the patients in two groups, a geriatrics group and an adult group on the basis of an age of 65. We compared the types of traffic accidents, the locations of the accidents, the behaviors of the patients at the times of the accidents, the use of seat-belts, and alcohol consumption between the two groups. We calculated the Revised Trauma Score (RTS), Injury Severity Score (ISS), and Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) for each group. Results: Total number of the included patients was 903, and the number of elderly patients was 181 (mean age: $71.7{\pm}4.9$ years old). There were no significant differences in the initial vital signs, GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale), and RTS between the two groups. There were differences in the types and the locations of the crashes, the behaviors of the patients at the times of the accidents, the use of seat belts, and alcohol consumption between the two groups (p<0.05). The average ISS of the geriatric group was higher than that of the adult group ($9.66{\pm}10.11$ vs. $6.59{\pm}8.99$, p=0.004). The mortality was higher in the geriatric group (n=17,9%) than in the adult group (n=23,2%) (p=0.004). Conclusion: The numbers of mortalities and surgical procedures were greater within the elderly group than the adult group. The average ISS was higher in the geriatric group than in the adult group. The severity of injuries due to traffic accidents was higher in the geriatric group than it was in the adult group.